The unmistakable aroma of fluffy pancakes cooking alongside the tantalizing smell of breakfast smokies and sausage is one of the most pleasant assaults on our senses in the culinary world. And those Pantego Lions are experts in preparing this perennial favorite.

They’ll be at it again Aug. 30 at the Lions Community Center, 3535 Marathon St. in Pantego. They’ll be serving hungry folks the tantalizing breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.

In charge of the event is Cal Kost, who says, “Tickets are $6 and include the breakfast and a chance to win one of the more than 40 raffle prizes we’ve gotten from local businesses.”

“We are starting a Lions service organization, the Leo Club, at Bailey Junior High,” Kost said. “And we will continue our support of South Davis [Elementary] by giving two gifts each grading period to students with perfect attendance.”

Kiddos will be entertained by the antics of those lovable Happi Tymes clowns as they work the room creating a festive atmosphere.

Kost said the Pantego Lions Club uses proceeds from the event to support dozens of local causes, schools and charities. “Each year we donate several thousand dollars to others as we serve.”

More than 80 friends and family gathered in celebration of longtime Arlington resident Helen Maddox’s 100th birthday last week at Cacharel Restaurant.

The party theme, “The Century of Helen Krebs Maddox,” was hosted by Judi and Gary Martin, Delores and Richard Pell, Ben and Trudy Termini, Winifred Seaman and Barbara Nash. Maddox’s family from Portand, Ore.;, Grosse Pointe, Mich.; and Los Angeles joined her Arlington friends to celebrate the milestone birthday.

Popular pianist and composer Danny Wright, in from Las Vegas where he is a resident performer, played a special song he had written for Maddox in honor of the historic occasion. Vocalist Katy Reiswig, formerly of Arlington, accompanied by Wright on piano, entertained guests with several beautiful numbers.

Guests at the party enjoyed seeing a display of Maddox’s 1945 wedding gown, her graduation dresses from 1931 and a scrapbook filled with hundreds of mementos while a video filled with photos from Maddox’s life played throughout the evening.

Former Arlington police chaplain Harold Elliott was master of ceremonies for the special evening that included a gourmet meal prepared by the Cacharel chef, who also presented the guest of honor a beautiful strawberry cake.

Candies packaged in personalized wrappers depicting the event along with coffee mugs picturing Maddox were parting gifts as well as a CD of Wright’s special birthday composition.

State Rep. Diane Patrick read a proclamation from the Texas House of Representatives and presented Maddox with a flag flown over the Capitol in her honor.

On display was a resolution that was read on the Senate floor by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, a close friend. Proclamations from Arlington and Mansfield Mayors Robert Cluck and David Cook were exhibited, along with letters from President George W. Bush, Gov. Rick Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Willard Scott from NBC and President Barack Obama.

Maddox said everything about the party was just perfect and quipped, “I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder and harder to find one.”

First Little Free Library in north Arlington

A grassroots book-lending program sweeping the country for the past several years now has its first Arlington location, created by Susan and Mike Fortin at their home at 510 Country Wood Court.

Little Free Library, described by The Huffington Post as a re-invention of the library, was started in 2009 by Todd Bol and Rich Brooks in Wisconsin with a mission of promoting literacy and a love of reading and to build a sense of community. According to the organization’s website, as many as 18,000 Little Free Libraries exist in more than 70 countries around the world.

The process is simple: A wooden box resembling a birdhouse is mounted on a post in front of a home, workplace or school and filled with books for neighbors to borrow and for them to donate books of their own if desired. There are no cards, no fees, no fines and no operating hours. The Little Free Library is open and available 24/7.

Susan Fortin, a retired Arlington school district teacher, got the idea as she was looking for a way to share her extensive book collection and honor her parents at the same time.

“We have loved living in north Arlington for over 30 years and we want to give back to a community that has been such a good place to raise a family,” writes Fortin. “Mike and I hope to put up a few more of these before we’re through. We’ve stocked our first one with 50 high-quality books for readers of all ages. Each book is labeled or stamped with the Little Free Library motto: ‘Always a Gift, Never for Sale.’ ”

Fortin said the couple had enjoyed building the house and hopes it will inspire others to put a Little Free Library in their area.